Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (1998)

976 consumer complaints on file.

#10249612November 23, 2008
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
THE WIFE STARTED THE CAR AND IT HAD SOME LIGHT FROST ON THE WINDSHIELD SHE LET THE CAR WARM UP FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WHEN SHE CAME BACK OUT THE FROST HAD TURNED TO WATER SO SHE TURNED ON THE WIPERS AND THEY JUST WENT NUTS THE RIGHT WIPER WENT OVER TOP OF THE LEFT ONE SO SHE HAD TO GET OUT AND PHYSICALLY PUSH THEM DOWN SHE THEN CONTINUED WITH HER DAY WHEN I CAME HOME FROM WORK SHE TOLD ME ABOUT IT SO I WENT OUT TO SEE AND FOUND THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER TRANSMISSION ARMS WERE BROKEN AT ONE END ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE SO I THEN TOOK THEM OUT TO REPLACE THEM AND WHEN I LOOKED THEM UP ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THERE WAS A RECALL ON RECORD, SO I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE 1-800-222-1020 AND SEE JUST WHAT I CAN HAVE DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244259October 2, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
PASSLOCK SYSTEM FAILURE. HAPPENS VERY FREQUENTLY (THREE TO FOUR TIMES A WEEK) AND CAR CANNOT BE STARTED FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES WHILE THE SYSTEM RESETS ITSELF. THIS PROBLEM WAS MISDIAGNOSED SEVERAL TIMES BY DIFFERENT (WELL-QUALIFIED) MECHANICS AND WOUND UP COSTING OVER 1500 DOLLARS IN UNNEEDED REPAIRS TO THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE SEVERAL TIMES. GM IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSES TO DO A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243913September 29, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 1998 CHEVY MALIBU THAT DOES NOT START DUE TO A FAULTY RESET PASSLOCK SYSTEM. CHEVROLET DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT IS CLEARLY DANGEROUS SINCE I AM GOING TO GET MUGGED OR WORSE WAITING THE 10 MINUTES IT TAKES TO "FOOL" THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM AND GET THE CAR TO START. THERE ARE OVER 1000 COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET, IN VARIOUS YEARS OF MANUFACTURE OF THIS DEFECTIVE CHEVROLET PRODUCT. THERE MUST BE SOME SOLUTION TO THIS. THE OTHER NIGHT I WAS IN A DARK PARKING LOT FOR 20 MINUTES WAITING FOR MY CAR TO LET ME DRIVE HOME. I CALLED GM AGAIN AND WAS TOLD THEY STILL DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS IS OCCURRING IN THE MALIBU BUT JUST THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE PASSLOCK SYSTEM AND THE CAR "THINKS" IT IS BEING ROBBED. PLEASE ROB MY CAR. THEN I WILL BE SAFE!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10243624September 27, 2008
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER
DRIVING TO WORK IN HEAVY RAIN ON A BUSY STREET AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ON THE RIGHT COLLIDED WITH THE LEFT AND THEY JUST STOPPED WORKING CAUSING ME TO ALMOST CRASH INTO THE CAR INFRONT OF ME. HAD TO PULL OVER BECAUSE THERE WAS NO VISIBILITY AND HAD TO WAIT AN HOUR UNTIL THE RAIN STOPPED. THE PIVOT HOUSING AS THE DEALER CALLED IT IS CRACKED AND THE WIPERS WILL NOT OPERATE BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241682September 10, 2008
STEERING
WHILE ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN THE WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN AS IF THE POWER STEERING HAD GONE OUT. CLUNKING NOISE WAS HEARD AND WHEEL SUDDENLY SURGED TO THE RIGHT. WHEEL HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT TO TURN LEFT ACCOMPANIED BY STRAIN ON THE POWER STEERING. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239260August 22, 2008
STEERING
ON AUGUST 21, 2008, I WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON A LEVEL, STRAIGHT ROAD AND HEARD A SNAP. THE STEERING OF THE CAR GOT REALLY LOOSE AND SQUIRRELLY. I PULL OVER TO CHECK FOR LOOSE COMPONENTS UNDER THE WHEEL WELLS. EVERYTHING LOOKED TIGHT. LATER I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AT THE RACK AND PINION AND HAD A HELPER TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND RIGHT BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL TO THE LEFT. ONCE THE WHEEL WAS TURNED LEFT, I SAW THE WHOLE RACK MOVE UP AND DOWN FROM THE FRAME OF THE ENGINE CRADLE. FROM THE LOOKS OF IT A PART THAT HELD IT DOWN BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10238554August 17, 2008
SUSPENSION
CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, I WENT INTO CAR TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS LOUD BANG! I WALKED AROUND THE CAR TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT CAUSED THIS, COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. I THEN SAT IN CAR AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO ONE SIDE, WENT OUT TO CHECK TIRES, BOTH TIRES TURNED. DID THE SAME FOR THE OTHER SIDE, ALL OKAY. GOT IN CAR, BACKED OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND THEN ANOTHER LOUD BANG. BACKED THE CAR UP INTO THE DRIVEWAY. HAD IT FLAT BEDDED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. AS THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ARE NOTED IT WAS THE SPRING - THE REPAIR MAN SAID THANK GOD YOU WEREN'T DRIVING THE CAR IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. HAD TO HAVE SPRING, STRUTS AND STRUT MOUNTS REPLACED. AT THAT POINT I WAS SO SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY HAVE THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE OTHER SIDE, I ASKED THEM TO REPLACE BOTH. I CALLED CHEVROLET HEADQUARTERS TO ASK IF THIS IS ON A RECALL OR IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS FILED, THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID THEY HAVE NO RECALLS AND NOTHING ON RECORD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH OTHER CHEVROLET MALIBU OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236489July 31, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON A SMOOTH DRY ROAD SUDDENLY THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE SPRING BROKE DAMAGING THE STRUT AND TIRE. THANKFULLY, THIS WAS AT A SLOW SPEED OR SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THE TIRE, SPRING AND STRUT WERE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236497July 31, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT LEFT, DRIVER SIDE, SPRING BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES PER HOUR ON A SMOOTH PAVED ROAD. THIS WAS THE 2ND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED ON THE SAME CAR. THE FIRST TIME WAS THE RIGHT FRONT SIDE. I WAS DRIVING SLOWER SO THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW FROM THE SHARP BROKEN SPRING END RUBBING ON IT. THE SPRING WAS REPLACED WITH NO OTHER DAMAGE. AFTER READING ABOUT MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM I DECIDED TO SUMIT COMPLAINTS HOPING WE CAN PREVENT ANY INJURIES OR DEATHS. I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GM HAS NOT RECALLED THESE CARS AND HOW MANY ACCIDENTS GO UNREPORTED WITH THIS THE CAUSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234796July 18, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING IN A RAINSTORM, THE CONTACT ACTIVATED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THEY BEGAN TO CROSS OVER EACH OTHER. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER BLADE WAS VERY LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V068000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234213July 14, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE STRUT SNAPPED INTO CAUSING A LARGE GOUGE IN THE TIRE DEFLATING IT IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY, I HAD PULLED OFF INTERSTATE I-77 AND WAS IN A LARGE LEVEL PARKING SPACE. MY WIFE GOT IN THE CAR TO PULL UP AND PICK ME UP. AS THE CAR WENT LESS THAN A FOOT FORWARD A LARGE BANG WAS HEARD AND JOURNEY BEGAN TO GET HELP. TO AVOID RANDOM DETAILS OF 88 DEGREE HEAT AND HARDSHIP EVENTS, THE RESULT WAS A NEW TIRE, A NEW SPARE TIRE (DONUT), AN OVERNIGHT STAY AND EXPENSES AND A REPAIR BILL. THE STRUT WAS REPLACED WITH A USED ONE DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE STRANDED AWAY FROM HOME AND HAD NO TIME TO WAIT FOR A NEW ONE TO BE ORDERED. WHAT REALLY DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE POSSIBLE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM WAS THAT IN A SMALL REPAIR SHOP WITH ONLY 4 BAYS (SHEPARD'S REPAIR, PARKERSBURG, WV) THERE SAT ANOTHER MALIBU OF POSSIBLY THE EXACT MODEL WAITING FOR A NEW STRUT TO BE SHIPPED IN. THE ODDS ARE RATHER STAGGERING THAT THIS EVENT COULD BE SO RANDOM AS TO NOT IN SOME WAY POINT TO A MUCH LARGER SCALED PROBLEM WITH THESE COILS. BOTH SNAPPED IN APPROXIMATELY THE SAME PLACE (EXCEPT HIS WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE) AND NEITHER OF THE STRUTS THEMSELVES WERE LEAKING OR WEAK. NOW HOW DO I TRUST THE CAR FOR FEAR THE OTHER STRUT WILL BREAK OR EVEN THE REPLACEMENT FOR WHICH I KNOW NOT WHAT MODEL CAR IT WAS DISASSEMBLED FROM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225483April 23, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK, CAUSING ANTI FREEZE TO MIX WITH THE OIL, CAUSING FAILURE AND EXCESSIVE WEAR TO INTERNAL MOTOR PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223542April 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE COMPLAINT IS FOR THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION AND THE TAILLIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN FIXED TWICE, I AM TOLD IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THEY WORK WHEN THEY WANT TO. THIS IS A PROBLEM AT NIGHT WHEN I HAVE NO TAIL LIGHTS OR WHEN THE BRAKE LIGHTS DON'T WORK. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE IGNITIONS SWITCH, THE KEY WON'T MOVE IN THE IGNITION, WHICH MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO START. AFTER READING ON LINE, THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MALIBU'S AND OTHER CHEVY VEHICLES, BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE ABOUT THIS. I AM UNSURE OF THE INCIDENT DATE BECAUSE IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222896March 31, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE STEERING: RACK AND PINION WAS LEAKING AND THE CONTACT PAID $195, PLUS $470 FOR LABOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V527000 (STEERING:RACK AND PINION). THE CONTACT CALLED GM IN APRIL OF 2002 AND WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD BE REIMBURSED. WHEN HE INFORMED GM THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A PRIVATE SHOP, GM CHANGED THEIR MIND AND NEVER PROVIDED REIMBURSEMENT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,114. UPDATED 04/16/08 *BF THE DEALER REPAIRED THE CAM POSITION SENSOR AS WELL. UPDATED 04/16/08 *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219711February 29, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
WHILE MOVING THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE HEARD A LOUD BANG FROM THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION. I FOUND THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WAS JAMBED AGAINST THE TIRE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SPRING HAD BROKEN AND WE WERE LUCKY WE WERE NOT TRAVELING FAST ASUREDLY WE WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED INTO ONCOMOING TRAFFIC. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAS HAD A RASH OF SPRING FAILURES WITH MANY GM MODEL CARS HE ATIBUTES IT TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL IN THE SPRINGS. HE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH SPRINGS AND BOTH SHOCK STRUTS. I HAPPENED TO DROP BY THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE ASKED HOW IT WAS WORKING I INFORMED HIM ABOUT WHAT HAD HAPPENED, HE WAS VERY SURPISED, AND THEN TOLD ME HE HAD A 2000 CHEV MALIBU ON THE LOT THAT HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN WHILE STANDING. OF COURSE HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME. OUT OF WARRANTY. THE COST FOR THE REPAIR WAS $847.59 BUT WE ARE GLAD TO BE ALIVE. NO MORE GM CARS MADE WITH INFERIOR CHINESE METAL. AMERICANS TAKE HEED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216167January 26, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THE THEFT SECURITY SYSTEM IN THESE CARS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215875January 24, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SUSPENSION
THE COIL SPRING SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE I WAS IN MY CAR AND POPPED MY TIRE. I WAS TRAVELING AT EXTREMELY LOW SPEEDS, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE BEEN TERRIBLE. I REPLACED IT WITH A JUNK YARD SPRING AND STRUT SINCE I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE THE FAILURE THERE WAS A LOW SQUEAK OR RUB COMING FROM THE FRONT WHEEL WELL. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME THAT IT WAS SNOW BUILD UP, BUT NOW I KNOW BETTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210441December 1, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
1998 CHEVY MALIBU: FAULTY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET RESULTING IN COOLANT LEAK IN ENGINE. RESULTED IN ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AND UPPER INTAKE GASKET CHANGED AT $2000 CANADIAN. TWO MONTHS LATER,AND LESS TAN 5,000 KMS LATER, FUEL TANK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. LESS THAN 30 DAYS LATER, UPPER INTAKE GASKET AND FRONT BRAKES NEED TO BE CHANGED AT COST OF $1500 CANADIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10210357November 30, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE
1998 MALIBU - THEFT SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE FOR NO REASON AND THERE IS NOT A SOLUTION IN THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR THIS CONDITION. IF THE INTERNET SEARCH OF 10 MINUTE WAIT DOES NOT WORK, USING ANOTHER KEY, SPRAYING THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH CLEANER OR KICKING A TIRE - YOU WILL HAVE TO TAKE A CAB. THERE IS NOT A WAY TO DISARM THIS SYSTEM. I WILL NOT OWN ANOTHER GM PRODUCT BECAUSE OF THIS SYSTEM AND THE INABILITY TO TURN OFF MY HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10209002November 15, 2007
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
ANTI THEFT SYSTEM MALFUNCTION IN MY 1998 CHEVY MALIBU HAS CAUSED TURMOIL AND HARDSHIPS. THE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS REGULARLY AND STRANDS ME IN NOT SO SAFE PLACES. IT IS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS TO SIT IN MY CAR IN A DARK PARKING LOT THEN TO HAVE IT STOLEN. SOMETIMES AFTER THE 10 MINUTE WAIT, THE IGNITION STILL DOESN'T TURN OVER, AND IM WAITING ANOTHER 10 MINUTES, AND THEN AGAIN. LAST NIGHT IT TOOK 4 HOURS FOR IT TO GO OFF. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY LATE FOR WORK. I HAVE READ THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE, AND THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. IT IS DANGEROUS TO CHEVY'S CONSUMERS, A HORRIBLE ENGINEERING IDEA, AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES FOR NOT RECALLING THIS DANGEROUS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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